Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-10-06


Tad knew nothing about playing a
trout, and II he had It would have made
no difference, owing 10 his primitive
fishing tackle. He pulled vigorously;
30 did the trout, and ''snapr' went the
end OF the alder pole, leaving Tad in
mad frenzy Of excitement, with three
fourths of the rod in his hands, dane
ing madly on the rocks
Joe was equal to the situation.
Dropping his own polo, he made dive
for the broken fragment, which was
tioating in sight. Gathering the slack
line carefully in his hands. vigorous
tug landed high and dry the largest
trout ever caught In Mill brook.
"Therem Joe exclaimed, as Tad re-
garded his prize in an amazement too
deep for words. '.you've caught the one
real trout you've wanted to-now.
guess we'd better be getting home,
without doing any more fishing"
''All right" returned Tad, MOURN
fully, "but you caught him, after all.
Joe" But Joe stoutly asserted that
Tad hooked him first, while he--Joe-
only helped 10 bring the big fish safe to
land. And, in tho discussion Of the cx-
citing episode, the walk home was ac-
complished in a surprisingly short time.
Tads big trout was baked for sup
per, and it was generally agreed by the
four who partook thereof that the flavor
was particularly fine. Tad himself Sc
cretly thought he had never eaten any
thing so delicious in his whole life.
But It is not unlikely that the knOwl-
edge that he himself had furnished this
important adjunct TO the evening meal
gave il an additional relish for Tad.
BY this time Tad had begun TO feel
very much at case with these quiet,
homc-like people. As they gathered
about the open Fireplace, with its
smoldering backlog, after the tea
things were cleared away, and the big
kerosene-lamp was lighted, he opened
his heart to their kindly questioning
and spoke freely Of his past life. There
was really little or nothing 20 keep
back. for, as | have said. thanks TO the
memory Of his mothers teachings and
onatural uprightness Of character, Tad
had escaped the evil ways which
homeless. friendless boy is so apt to fall
into, and, though no had faults In
abundance, he was. on the whole, a
mere UPRIGHT young fellow than many
whose surroundings and advantages
had been far more favorable than
Tad's.
=" So you're TO begin ships duties to
Miss Smith o. Monday Tad?" re-
marked the Captain, thoughtfully. TO
break a little silence which had fallen
upon the group.
Yes. SIR" was the reply. "and /
do hope she'll like me-
"She'll be hard 10 suit II she don't, 4"
returned Mrs. Flagg, clicking her nee
dies emphatically together as they
flashed in and out Of the meshes Of a
blue yarn sock that she was knitting
for the Captain. For the good lady,
whose hearl was large enough 10 taxa
In nj least half dozen motherless boys
md girls, had begun TO regard Tad
with considerable favor.
Il know she'll like YOU" said Polly,
confidently, as she looked up from tho
fascinating pages ci Little Women"
Which she WAS reading for the first time,
while Bounce slumbered peacefully in
her lap.
You just go on and do your duty
unto Miss Smith accordin' ms you'd
have II done 10 you. Tad remarked
the Captain, oracularly. "and you
needn't have no fears. Miss Smith, 4"
continued Captain Flagg. with upraised
dngcr 10 command attention, "is fe-
male that's had tempostuous y'y'ge
Ia life, as ID were, a-losing OF every re-
lniiou she had, which has gone to make
her biteranky; but she's good-hearied
and God-fearin'. and once you get into
her good books, you're always there"
"Ihey say she's got a han'sum prop
rfly that her folks left her-somc-
whrres nigh ten thousan' dollars. Mrs.
Fla2g observed, In voice indicative Of
considerable respect for the possessor
Of such wealth. For In Bixport the
person with an unencumbcred estate
and thousand dollars was ''wcll-to-
don; be who had live thousand was well
oll; while the owner Of ten thousand
dollars Was regarded In the light Of a
millionaire.
CHAPTER x.
On the following morning, when